Balancing Tires
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Instructor
Joined: Oct 2007
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Balancing Tires
Does anyone know if there is a limit too how much lead weight can be installed on a wheel/tire assembly? I just purchased aftermarket Zo6 (Topline Brand) wheels and the vender used 6OZ. of led to balance one wheel. The tire had normal size lead pieces on the factory wheel. To assure me that the rim was OK he remounted a new Kumho tire on the wheel and it needed 3 OZ of lead to balance.Is this normal?
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: San Antonio Texas
Does anyone know if there is a limit too how much lead weight can be installed on a wheel/tire assembly? I just purchased aftermarket Zo6 (Topline Brand) wheels and the vender used 6OZ. of led to balance one wheel. The tire had normal size lead pieces on the factory wheel. To assure me that the rim was OK he remounted a new Kumho tire on the wheel and it needed 3 OZ of lead to balance.Is this normal?
A ton of wheels coming from China are replete with problems.
Tell your store mgr you are very very concerned. Put something in writing and give to him. Have witness, just in case. You can do this very professionally and matter-of-factly.
Call two or three store mgrs at tire dealers like Disc Tire and Tire Rack. Or a service mgr at GM store. Document their comments, names, ph numbers.
Go back to selling shop and present your info. Also, in regard to selling store, note their marketing materials (in print or on internet). Quote their customer satisfaction words back to them.
I am convinced you have a bad wheel with that much weight on it.
Remember their cust satisfaction words, and be professional in your approach. In my opinion, honey works better than threats.
That is plan A.
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That does seem like a lot of weight on one wheel. If that shop didn't use one, I'd want another shop that has a Hunter Road Force machine to check it out.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Tunkhannock PA
I'll second the use of a Roadforce machine as we have one. The machines are newer and generally much better. One problem with tire shops with older equiptment is the machines do get out of calibration over time.
I had a similar problem with a tire on my Jeep. I was traveling and needed to replace a damaged tire. Went to Sam's club. Noticed a vibration on the way home. I checked out the wheel and it had about 9.5 ounces scattered over about 1/2 of the rim. I rebalanced and came out with 2.25 ounces. I called Sam's up. The shop manager let me know that their balancing machine was old and beat up. He told me they do the best they can with their machines.....
I had a similar problem with a tire on my Jeep. I was traveling and needed to replace a damaged tire. Went to Sam's club. Noticed a vibration on the way home. I checked out the wheel and it had about 9.5 ounces scattered over about 1/2 of the rim. I rebalanced and came out with 2.25 ounces. I called Sam's up. The shop manager let me know that their balancing machine was old and beat up. He told me they do the best they can with their machines.....
